Consul Moore to Richard Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons, June 6, 1863

Consul Moore to Lord Lyons.

I have the honor to enclose to your lordship the copy of a letter addressed to me by Mr. Benjamin, secretary of state, under yesterday’s date, together with letters patent (copy also enclosed) in the name of the president, Mr. Jefferson Davis, revoking my exequatur as her Majesty’s consul for the State of Virginia, for the reason therein assigned, that I had corresponded with the secretary of war here on matters beyond my consular jurisdiction, after receiving an intimation from the secretary of state not to do so.

I am very happy to state that my last crowning consular act was consummated yesterday morning before I received this ungenerous withdrawal of my exequatur, by which measure I have checked the attempted conscription of British subjects under various pretexts, namely, for having voted, for having declared their intention of becoming citizens, for holding real estate, and for having married in the country, so that numerous British subjects got their release from captivity in a military camp yesterday, and it will stay, I trust, for a time this source of anxiety to them.

If I am to leave Richmond it will be absolutely necessary that this government should allow the unshackled departure of all British subjects; and if military exigencies should be pleaded as an excuse for objecting to allow them to cross their military lines, I beg to suggest whether means could not be resorted to to have steamers sent to City Point, on the James river, for their conveyance to Baltimore or New York. There are numerous British workmen in the different government workshops who are very anxious to leave at their own expense, but they are refused passports.